Featured

NCF Vows To Deliver More Value To Cricket Community

Published

6 years ago

June 18, 2019

Joel Ajayi

When the newly elected board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), under the able leadership of Prof Yahaya Ukwanya assumed the office two years ago, the board equivocally pledged that its priority was to focus more on development of the game cricket in the country.

The mother luck may have played a significant role in the success story so far, even unrepentant critics of the present leadership of the NTF would agree that the board have brought positive motion to the aspirations and ambitions with regards to cricket game in Nigeria through the robust improve programs that have no doubt brought the physical growth and development of the game in the country and beyond.

Speaking on the occasion of two years in office which coincides with the International Cricket Council ICC visitation to Nigeria on the 360 review tour in Abuja on Monday the NCF President Prof. Ukwanya said the federation would leave no stone unturned to ensure the speedy growth of the game in Nigeria and in the world.

He assured that the present board would continue to do our possible best to deliver value to the Nigeria cricket community and create a conducive environment for our young talents to thrive.

According to him, so much has been learned on this journey so far and the board can say that it has been as challenging but with the development of the game.

“We are able to have a constitution through a deliberation approved by all stakeholders for entire practitioners of the sport.

“We have improved in some major areas that we have not done enough in the past years.

One of this area was facilities these have been a big challenge but we have done some work both in Lagos and in Abuja, two of our pitchers are right now up 70% playing standard completely.

“In the area of facilities, we are trying to provide facilities that can attract international competition in the country. We are going to improve on regional facilities this is where most of the development programs are being taken place.”

Another area that we have improved on is Development; “we are targeting 10,000 children every year. As we speak enrollment state by state is going on. We are looking at making cricket available to more Nigerian we have been walking on increase playing numbers of new children playing cricket, As a matter of fact, the volume of cricket played in the last two years has been increasing.

“We are engaging ourselves in the team’s building for both male and female team from Under-19 to National team. We brought new philosophies that will make our player to go out there and represent our country and make us proud.”

He added: “Our Domestic competitions have improved Nigeria now attend more competitions in the past two years.”

“I will not forget our financing, administration that we use to recorded huge failure in the past, we indeed work so hard to ensure there transparency and accountability to all stakeholders and even to the ICC.

Not to forget the recent award of the best for development programmes in Africa at the ICC award in Nambia by Nigeria.”NCF President equally commended the relentless media, who have been very gracious in covering and documenting our every step.

He equally urged all the stakeholders, the state government to join the federation by investing in the game which will bring growth and development to the country.

Ukwanya thanked entire board members whose entire actions have contributed so much to the success of this administration so far.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

Share on Facebook